1915 - 1929

Early predecessors of Happenings arise, in the forms of Surrealism, collage painting, Bauhaus Theatre and early movements in modern dance.

1940 - 1955

The art of Jackson Pollock and the Gutai in Japan become well-known, giving validity and popularity to art for the art's sake.  The act of creation becomes more important than the final product that is created.

Fall, 1959

Allan Kaprow's first Happening - 18 Happenings in 6 Parts is presented in New York.   Word of mouth spreads on the new form of theatre and the term "happenings" is coined when similar productions by other artists begin to occur.

1960 - 1966

Happenings enjoy their heyday.  Various artists, including, Claus Oldenburg, Jim Dine, Red Grooms, Robert Whitman and Allan Kaprow perform a variety of Happenings - primarily in New York's Greenwich Village area.  In 1966, Kaprow states that Happenings are virtually "dead" and other artists state their desire to stop performing them, as audiences are becoming too jaded - laughing at everything - and the art is becoming "chic".

"If you do not change your mind about something when you confront a picture you have not seen before, you are either a stubborn fool or the painting is not very good."

- Robert Rauschenberg (1966)

Beginnings

Performance Descriptions

Chronology

Quiz

Digital Bibliography

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